a certain
idiom
1
—used to refer to a quality that is noticed but that is difficult to explain or describe
She has a certain elegance about her.
The house has a certain charm.
2
formal
—used with the name of a person one does not know
In 1889, a certain Mr. Kelly made a large donation to the church.
Examples of a certain in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
On a certain level, that instinct was correct.
—
Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2025
For Six Senses, the partnership with Gere adds credibility and a certain level of notoriety to a project already positioned as one of the most ambitious experiments in regenerative luxury living on the Pacific coast.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 23 Dec. 2025
But today’s work culture seems to invite a certain amount of projection.
—Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
The rhythm of a sentence will accommodate a certain number of syllables.
—Literary Hub, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for a certain
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Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2025
For Six Senses, the partnership with Gere adds credibility and a certain level of notoriety to a project already positioned as one of the most ambitious experiments in regenerative luxury living on the Pacific coast.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 23 Dec. 2025
But today’s work culture seems to invite a certain amount of projection.
—Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
The rhythm of a sentence will accommodate a certain number of syllables.
—Literary Hub, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for a certain
Cite this Entry
“A certain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20certain. Accessed 26 Dec. 2025.
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